As the warm weather engulfs the city, flags and bunting go up all over Chueca neighbourhood and Madrileños prepare to celebrate Madrid Pride, an event that draws nearly two million visitors from across the globe. Enjoyed by people of all ages, genders, sexualities, races and faiths, it is living proof that Madrid is an open, cosmopolitan and diverse city.
After the huge sucess of 2017 WorldPride, Madrid has become one of the world’s top LGBTQ+ destinations. Its Pride is attended by thousands of people every year. Celebrations always kick off on International Pride Day, 28 June, which commemorates the Stonewall riots, the most important event in the gay rights’ movement. They last for a week and are packed with awareness-raising activities, cultural events and all kinds of entertainment, including the main event, a huge parade held on the first Saturday of July and going between Atocha train station and Plaza de Colón.
Everyone's Pride
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 edition was forced to go virtual. It is everyone's hope that for 2021 things will have gone back to normal and that the city will once again be able to welcome hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to celebrate diversity. Although the majority of activities are held in the Chueca neighbourhood, one of Madrid’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant areas, Pride is enjoyed across the entire city. Stages hosting concerts and shows are set up in Plaza de Pedro Zerolo, Plaza del Rey, Puerta del Sol and Puerta de Alcalá by the LGBTI Pride Organising Committee which is composed of the National Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (FELGTB), COGAM, the LGTBIQA+ Madrid Collective and the Association of Companies and Professionals for Gays, Trans people and Bisexuals (AEGAL).
The parade and other events
The main event of Gay Pride week is undoubtedly the parade. Every year on the first Saturday of July thousands of people in Madrid march from Atocha (Paseo del Prado next to the Botanical Gardens) to Colón to demand equal rights for the LGBTIQA+ community. Attendees enjoy an incredible atmosphere as they take to the street to celebrate and embrace diversity.
Las year the parade was held online under the motto “Sorority and Feminism that TRANSform. Lesbian, trans and bisexual women in action! Let’s stand by those who are most vulnerable!”.
In addition to the parade, Madrid Pride features a host of other events that send out a strong message of support, warmth, colour, visibility and hope. Concerts are held on various stages dotted around the city centre, and the official opening ceremony always takes place on the stage of Plaza de Pedro Zerolo with a speech delivered by someone from the LGBTIQA+ community. Other unmissable events include the Race for Diversity Pride, Madrid Summit (the annual International Conference on Human Rights where politicians, activists and personalities from the community discuss LGBTIQA+ rights), the Mr Gay Pride España contest (whose final is usually held on the stage in Puerta del Sol) andthe popular High-Heels Race
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